George Washington
A reputation forms one of the most important parts of a person’s life. This is the important thing that one can have in his or her life. Many people often argue that the way others view them is of little essence and does not affect their lives at any given time. The whole concept is all wrong as reputation plays a major role in affecting a person’s life drastically. Reputation can therefore be regarded as the way other people look a person. This can greatly affect the success of a person’s life as it can work in a person’s favor or rather against them depending on how people perceive the individual. It is important to note that each and every individual aspires to have a good reputation so as to be respected by all of the society members. It is therefore shaped and influenced by an individual’s character and their past can be used in a person’s benefit. Throughout history, George Washington has strived to develop a good reputation that has partly been formed by his own character and his past. This paper will therefore have an in-depth discussion on George Washington’s reputation and how it has been shaped and influenced over time.
George Washington is without a doubt the most popular hero not only in the American history but across the world as well. He is an iconic leader of a lifetime because of his exemplary leadership at the revolutionary army in 1770’s during the American Revolution. He was brought up in a background that had a military atmosphere as one of his eldest brothers was in the military. This shaped his character and contributed to his military experience. This propelled him to greater chances in regards to his career as well as leadership (Hein, 2015, 37). His reputation was also shaped by his great association with brilliant writers, philosophers, and leaders. All of these people had higher levels of education than him and as a result of his relation to them, he was able to acquire sound knowledge from them. His philosophical decency, unselfish nature and self-control along with his good intellect enhanced his capability to surpass all of the other challenges. His personality to be specific was outstandingly inspiring. His presence always increased the success and courage development of his followers and contemplators. His leadership qualities were those of a great leader and they extended to a greater extent. His charismatic leadership continued all through his leadership as a visionary. He thus was able to maintain his loyalty and affection to all of his citizens even when he became the president. He, therefore, emerged as the most historic leader in the US (Patten, 2009, 222).
Historically, Washington was the utmost commander of his time. Through the many battles, he led his men to victory. This statement is intensely captured and given further details about by many of the United States citizens as well as historians across the globe. Historians have therefore brilliantly written about Washington as a great military leader. Most of the historical interpretation argues that most of his accomplishments at the military were achieved at the famous revolutionary army as he served as the commander. His conquest at the major wars and his drastic ascendance to presidency seat that led him to become the first president of America have made him be affectionately branded to be the “father of the nation” by all generations in history and even up to date (Patten, 2009, 221). Historically, being the first president of the United States is interpreted as the most important achievement of his life thus influencing his reputation more than his military prowess.
The myth surrounding George Washington’s leadership is that he was a Republican. This was however just a myth and not a true depiction of Washington’s reality. He was not affiliated with any political party. Actually, he was completely against the idea of partnering and also warned against this in one of his speech. He argued that “however [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion” ( Kauffman, 1996, 74).
The myth and historical interpretation of George Washington have over time influenced the depiction of Washington as a great leader. Both interpretations repute his as a famous leader who always did the right thing. His reserved life contributed to the myths surrounding his leadership and life in general hence shaping a part of his reputation. However, the linking of the myth and historical arguments, it is quite clear that Washington was reputed as a monument as he was aware of the fact that he had to put the priority of his nation first hence he set aside all of his selfish gains such as affiliating with political parties (Patten, 2009, 222). He is thus viewed as both a mythical and historical hero.
The famous culture’s understanding of Washington has been motivated by myths as well as facts provided for by his core role in US’s infancy. His image has therefore shifted with time. His reputation has transformed from that of a military hero to that of being a moral leader. At the onset of the new America, he was depicted as a virtuous leader who was more interested in fighting for the citizens’ freedom rather than exercising absolute authority (Hein, 2015, 40). He was thus viewed as a savior as he delivered the US nation from the slavery of Great Britain. In two centuries his reputation has been changed into that of an isolated and gentility man as well as a personification of virtue. As America became more democratic, he has been portrayed as an ordinary man with an imperfect nature just like other humans thus everyday people could easily associate with him.
As evidenced above, George Washington is regarded as one of the core founders of the American nation due to his wide range of achievements. One of his most notable achievement is his role as Continental Army commander during the revolutionary war and also his firm efforts to establish a unified and efficient nation. His intelligence, charisma, and experience while at the military made him possibly one of the most iconic and honored generals in the American history. As a result of his heroic military endeavors, his reputation was shaped and influenced resulting in the formation of an excellent Republican and a true soldier reputation. Apart from all of his outstanding achievements, his achievements went far beyond the war, spreading out to the formation of the American nation and the establishment of the United States Constitution. He, however, restrained himself from affiliating himself with any political party. Him being the first president of US, he was strongly convinced that being a member of any of the political parties would serve as stagnation and would also increase opposition which would hinder his collective ambitions for his nation. Moreover, the outstanding patriotism that he displayed over his time as the military leader illustrated how unique he was.
References
Kauffman, B 1996, 'Farewell George', American Enterprise, 7, 2, p. 74, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 April 2018.
Hein, D 2015, 'GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE PATIENCE OF POWER', Modern Age, 57, 4, pp. 35-43, Professional Development Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 April 2018.
Patten, D 2009, 'George Washington', Vital Speeches Of The Day, 75, 5, pp. 219-222, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 April 2018.
